Printing apparatus



July l9, 1938. ATTl 2,124,179

PRINTING APPARATUS Filed May 28, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY6 Jul 19, 193s. R Am 2,124,179

PRINTING APPARATUS Filed May 28, 1937 2 sheets-sheet 2 I Xe Patented July 19, 1938 PRINTING APPARATUS Raphael Atti, Union City, N. J., assignor to Francis H. Richards, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 28, 1937, Serial No. 145,259

5 Claims.

This invention relates to printing apparatus and is herein illustrated as embodied in a machine especially designed for printing such as trade names or other indicia on 'golfballs.

An important object of the invention is to provide a generally improved machine of the character mentioned which is simple in construction, reliable in operation and by which the printing operations may be carried out expeditiously.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a plan View of a machine embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View taken on line 33 of Fig. 1, certain parts bein omitted for the sake of clarity; Fig. 4 is a central, vertical, sectional View taken on line 44 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a fragmental detail view of the socket end of one of a pair of type head actuating plungers; Fig. 6 is a fragmental View, similar to that of Fig. 4 .and showing a modified form of ink pad or unit, and Fig. '7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the spaced. relation of the surface-pattern-forming cup-like depressions of a golf ball in the vicinity of one of its poles.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral ID indicates a suitable base which is adapted tobe connected to a table or other support, not shown. Mounted centrally on the base, is a vertically disposed pedestal-like bearing H, the upper end of which is provided with an upwardly extending boss I2, and the lower end of which is provided with a similar boss l4 adapted to snugly fit The bearing H is held against displacement on the base ill by a lag screw Hi, the head end of which engages a washer l'l overlying the opening l5, and the screw-threaded end of which is confined within a screw-threaded opening l8 formed centrally of the bearing. Supported on the bearing I I, is a cup-like receptacle 20, which is adapted to receive an article, such as a golf ball l3 on which a printing operation is to be carried out, and which is provided with an opening 2! adapted to snugly receive the boss l2, about which the receptacle may be rotatably adjusted and on which such receptacle is held by a lag screw-22, the head end of which is adapted to fit snugly within a socket-like depression 24 formed in the bottom of the cup member and the screwthe bearing l I.

It is to be observed that the bearing H is so machined as to provide a ledgelike shoulder 26 and topresent above"such shoulder a true cylindrical surface, which matches or coincides with and forms a continua tion of the true cylindrical surface of the re- 5 ceptacle 20. 'f

Rotatably supported on the bearingll is an ink-pad-carrying cylinder 21 which is adapted to snugly fit the matched peripheral surfaces of u the bearing H and the receptacle 20. The cylin} '10 der 2'! is formed at its lower end with a flange like ratchet 28, above which is disposed an ink pad in the form of a relatively soft rubber ring 30 which embraces and snugly engages the outer 4 wall of the cylinder. The ratchet 28'is provided 15 with a peripheral groove 3i, and its teeth3 2, which are formed on its lower surface, are adapted to so cooperate with a spring-like'pawl 34 as to effect step-by-stEp rotative movement of the cylinder 21 and its associated inking pad 20 under conditions of operation hereinafter more particularly described, the pawl being suitably connected to the base portion of the bearing ll as by a screw 35.

In order that the cylinder 21 and its asso- 5 ciated ink pad may be raised and loWeredQfor the purpose hereinafter more particularly described, there is provided a yoke-like elevating lever 36, the arms 31 and 38 of which are connected to a shaft 40, supported in bracket-like 31 bearings 4| forming elements of a pair of hearing units 42 secured to the base l0 relatively near opposite ends thereof. The arms 31 and 3 8' are provided respectively with trunnions 44 and '45, the inner ends of which are accommodated by the peripheral groove 3! at diametrically opposed points therein. The trunnion 44 comprises a trunnion pin 46, which is adapted to be held in a definite position by a set screw 41, carried by the arm 31; and the trunnion 45 comprisesa cup-like sleeve 48, which is held in a definite position, by a set screw 58 carried by the-arm 38, and within which is confined a'slidable trunnion pin 5|, normally urged toward and into engagement with the bottom of the peripheral groove Si by a compression spring 52,-disp'o'sed intermediate the outer end of the trunnion pin and the closed end of the cup-like sleeve.

From the foregoing description, reference being had to the elevating lever 38, it will be under- 1 stood that as such lever is moved from itsfull line position shown in Fig. 3 to its dottedielin-eposition shown therein, the cylinder 2'! and its assocated inkpad will be moved to its dotted:- line position, the extent of such upwardmoye- 5 5 ment being limited according to the adjustment of a limit-adjusting screw 54 which is adapted to abut the base In, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and which is carried at the lower end of a depending arm 55, connected to and. movable with the arms 31 and 38. It is tobe observed from Fig. 3 that, incident to upward movement of the cylinder 2'! and its associated ink pad, the spring-like pawl 34 is disengaged from the ratchet 28 without rotatably displacing the cylinder and ink pad; but on the other hand, as such cylinder and pad are lowered, the ratchet will engage the free end of the pawl, with the result that, as the pawl moves from its dottedline position to its full-line position it will effect a slight rotative displacement of the cylinder and the ink pad so as to present a new inking surface preparatory to the next printing operation.

Each of the bearing units 42 includes a longitudinally disposed bearing 56, which bearings are disposed in alignment with each other and within each of which is mounted a type head actuating plunger 51. The outer end of each of these plungers is screw-threaded as shown at 58, and is provided with limit-adjusting hand wheels 60, by which the extent of movement of such plungers toward each other may be varied within limits. The inner ends of the plungers are socket-like in character, as shown in Fig. 5, and are each adapted to removably receive the shank portion of a type or printing head 6!, which is shaped to present a plurality of tangs 62, presenting type-faces which collectively present a contour corresponding to the contour of the article on which a printing operation is to be carried out. The type heads 6| may be held against displacement by a pair of set screws 64, which are carried at the inner ends of the plungers 51 and are adapted to be run down into impinging engagement with the shank portions of such heads. The outer end of each plunger 51 is bifurcated, as shown most clearly in Fig. 1, so as to provide a pair of ears 65 carrying a rivet-like pin 66. The pins 66 are adapted. to afford a pivotal and slidable connection between the outer ends of the plungers and the slotted upper ends of a pairof plunger-actuating levers 61, which are pivotally supported, within a pair of slots (formed in opposite ends of the base II!) by a pair of pins 10 or the like. To the lower ends of the lever 61, are pivotally connected a pair of toggle links H, which are in turn pivotally connected to each other, as shown at 12, and to which is connected a tension spring 14. In order that the plungers 51 may be conveniently moved toward each other against the action of the spring 14', the toggle links H are pivotally connected at 12 to an actuating link I5, which at its lower end is pivotally connected to a foot treadle 1B. Thus, it will be appreciated that the foot treadle 16 may be employed to move the type heads 6| into engagement with the ink pad, when the cylinder 21 and its associated ink pad are elevated as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and to also move such heads into engagement with the golf ball [3, on which a printing operation is to be carried out, when the cylinder and its associated ink pad are positioned as indicated in full lines in Fig. 3.

In order to limit the inward movement of the plungers 51, as when the cylinder 21 and its associated ink pad are elevated, so that the type faces of the heads 6| will engage the face of the inking ring 30 without unduly impinging thereon, the opposite ends of the shaft 40 are provided with a pair of limiting arms 11, the outer ends of which are bifurcated and are adapted to be moved, as the lever 36 is elevated, into yoking relations to the plungers 51 at points intermediate the hand wheels 60 .and the adjacent ends of the bearings 56. It is to be observed that the hand wheels 60 not only function as and for the purpose just described but that they also function to so limit the inward movement of the plungers 5'! as to cause type faces of the heads 6| to impinge with a desired degree of intimacy on the golf ball l3 incident to the carrying out of a printing operation, in which case the limiting arms H are out of the path of travel of the hand wheels so that such Wheels are adapted to then move into abutting engagement with the outer ends of the bearings 56.

From what has been said heretofore regarding the intermittent step-by-step rotation of the cylinder 21 and its associated ink pad as effected by the spring pawl 34 in cooperation with the ratchet 32, it will be understood that preparatory to the carrying out of each inking operation, the ink pad is so moved as to present a new surface to the type faces of the type heads 6|. In this connection it will be observed that for a given setting of the limit-adjusting screw 54, the path of contact as between the type heads 6| and the ink pad is fixed. As the ink supply which is peculiar to such path becomes depleted, a new path of ink supply may be rendered available by changing the position of the limit-adjusting screw 54, which determines the extent to which the cylinder 2! and its associated ink pad can be elevated and, therefore, the path of contact to be presented. In view of the fact that the inking ments of the limit-adjusting screw 54, it follows that the machine may be operated over a relatively long period of time without necessitating the application of a new supply of ink to the inking ring.

In connection with present-day commercial golf balls, it may be Well to point out that they are so formed as to present various surface patterns, a conventional pattern being fragmentally illustrated in Fig. '7 as characterized by a multiplicity of cup-like depressions 18. The conventional surface pattern here fragmentally illustrated is such as to present six so-called poles, the one which is herein discernible being defined by such of the depressions 18 as are next adjacent the area bearing the word Space. Two of the six poles are located at diametrically opposite points on the surface of the golf ball and the other four of such poles are spaced about the perimeter of the ball at ninety degrees from each other and at a like distance from each of the two first-mentioned poles. As shown in Fig. 4, the bottom wall of the cup-like receptacle 20 is provided with a plurality of indexing lobes 80, which are so located with respect to certain of the depressions 18 (which are adapted to receive said trasting color, for example,.red. In order-to realize such color-contrast,,theprinting heads 6| may be secured in the plungers 51 at right angles to the positions in whichthey, are indicated in Fig. 2 and in lieu of the inking unit hereinbefore described there may be employed an inkingunit comprising, as is shown in Fig. 6,-a, pair of rubber rings 30, one of which may be supplied with black ink and the other with red ink, said rings collectively presenting a surface which is curved longitudinally of the common ring axiss'o as to conform to the curvature of the type faces of the printing heads. In the event, it is desired, for example, to: print a trade-mark or other indicia, one half in the one color and the other half in the other color, the limit-adjusting screw 54 may be so positioned as-to insure contact of the upper and lower rings 30 respectively with the upper and lower halves of each printing head face. It will be understood, of course, that any desired extent of contrast in colors in the printed trademark or other indicia may be attained by accordingly adjusting the adjusting screw 54, that is to say, by adjusting the screw 54 in one direction away from its neutral position the color corresponding to that of the ink carried by the upper ring may be caused to dominate in the print, and by adjusting such screw in an opposite direction away from its neutral position the color corresponding to that of the ink carried by the lower ring may be caused to dominate in the print. It is obvious, of course, that in the event solid color printing is desired, both of the rings 30 may be coated with ink of the same color; or, if desired, there may be employed a single ring coated throughout its area with ink of the desired color and corresponding in size, contour and shape to the two-ring unit.

Regardless of whichever form of the invention herein disclosed may be employed, it will be understood that the cup-like receptacles 20 and 20', inasmuch as they are rotatably adjustable on their respective pedestal-like bearings II and H, may be so positioned as to insure against failure of the indexing lobes 80 and 80" to properly locate such poles of the ball as are intended to be subjected to the printing action of the type heads 6|.

It will, of course, be understood that when the type heads 6| are vertically disposed, as above described, the clearance notches 8|, with which the receptacle 20 is provided in order to accommodate the type heads when horizontally disposed as shown in Fig. 2, may of course be made narrower and Will of necessity be made deeper, as shown at 81' in Fig. 6, wherein is illustrated a receptacle 20 which difiers from the receptacle 20 hereinbefore described only in so far as the dimensions of the clearance notches are concerned.

Aside from the modifications herein shown and described, it will be understood that various other changes may be adopted without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for use in the carrying out of a printing operation at difierent locations on an article comprising a support for retaining said article in printing position, actuating plungers mounted for movement longitudinally of themselves, printing heads carried by said plungers and adapted to be moved along with such plungers toward each other and into printing engagement with said article at different locations thereon, and. limit-adjusting means .for. varying the .extent of :movement ofsaid. heads toward each other and for correspondingly varyingithe degree :of impingement of suchwheads onsaid article-said limitadjusting. means including stop elements a-djustableton said: plungers and abut? ment elements with which said stop elements are adapted to engage.

2, -A machine for use :in the carrying out of a printing operation at difierent locations on an article comprising a support for retaining-said article in printing position,printingheads adapted to be moved toward each otherand into printingengagement with said article at difierent locations thereon, .and an inking: unit mounted on said' support for movement, longitudinally of its axis and adapted to be moved into the path: of said print ing heads and to be there engaged by such heads and to be thereafter moved out of said path preparatory to movement of such heads into printing engagement with said article.

3. A machine for use in the carrying out of a printing operation at different locations on an article comprising a support for retaining said article in printing position, printing heads adapted to be moved toward each other and into printing engagement with said article at diflerent locations thereon, an inking unit mounted on said support for movements both about and longitudially of its axis and adapted to be moved into the path of said printing heads and to be there engaged by such heads and to be thereafter moved out of said path preparatory to movement of such heads into printing engagement with said article, inking-unit-displacing means for facilitating movement of such unit into and out of said path, and means automatically actuated incident to operation of said displacing means for efiecting step-by-step rotary movement of said inking unit whereby successive contact areas of such unit are presented for engagement by said printing heads.

4. A machine for use in the carrying out of a printing operation at difierent locations on an article comprising a support for retaining said article in printing position, actuating plungers mounted for movement longitudinally of themselves, printing heads carried by said plungers and adapted to be moved along with such plungers toward each other and into printing engagement with said article at different locations thereon, limit-adjusting means for varying the extent of movement of said heads toward each other and for correspondingly varying the degree of impingement of such heads on said article, said limit-adjusting means including stop elements adjustable on said plungers and abutment elements with which said stop elements are adapted to engage, an inking unit adapted to be moved into the path of said printing heads and to be there engaged by such heads and to be thereafter moved out of said path preparatory to movement of such heads into printing engagement with said article, inking-unit-displacing means for facilitating movement of such unit into and out of said path, and means automatically actuated incident to operation of said displacing means for efiecting step-by-step movement of said inking unit whereby successive contact areas of such unit are presented for engagement by said printing heads.

5. A machine for use in the carrying out of a printing operation at difierent locations on an article comprising a support for retaining said article in printing position, a pair of printing it-G heads, a pair of printing head actuating plungers carrying said printing heads, means for moving said printing heads through the medium of said plungers toward each other and into printing engagement with said article at difierent locations thereon, limit-adjusting means for varying the extent of movement of said heads toward each other and for correspondingly varying the degree of impingement of such heads on said article, said limit-adjusting means including stop elements adjustable on said plungers and abutment elements with which said stop elements are adapted to engage, an inking unit mounted on said support for movements both about and iongitudinally of its axis and adapted to be moved into the path of said printing heads and to be there engaged by such heads and to be thereafter moved out of said path preparatory to movement of such heads into printing engagement with said article, inking-unit-displacing means for facilitating movement of such unit into and out of said path, means under the control of said inking-unit-displacing means for limiting the intimacy of engagement of said printing heads with said inking unit and including a pair of limiting arms adapted to be moved into and out of positions intermediate said stop elements and said abutment elements and means automatically actuated incident to operation of said displacing means for efiecting step-by-step rotary movement of said inking unit whereby successive contact areas of such unit are presented for engagement by said printing heads. RAPHAEL AT'I'I. 

